In the first few days of life a newbornusually loses up to 10% of body weight at birth. Then, during the first two weeks, it is restored. On average, children double their birth weight after the fourth month and triple it after the twelfth month. The baby will be about four times as heavy as at birth in two years. Some children reach these levels at an earlier age, and others, when they become older. But how much should a child weigh at each age? The answer to this question always worries young mothers, as it is an indicator of the development of the baby. Growth rates are also important. The fastest growth is in the period from two weeks to six months. Slightly reduced after six months. Then the decline is observed after nine and twelve months. These age periods vary for each child.
WHO has developed standards by whichchild development is assessed according to gender and age. Standard indicators contain data on height, length and body weight on age, body weight on height and length, as well as BMI (body mass index) on age. Body length is measured when the child is lying, and growth - when he is standing. These values are presented in the form of tables and diagrams, using them you can determine, including how much a child should weigh from 0 to 60 months or five years. In the period from 1997 to 2003, WHO conducted multi-center studies of development indicators and constructed new curves designed to measure the development and growth of children around the world.
For drawing up standards "body weight - age"Longitudinal data (time series of specific objects at successive moments of time) and cross-sectional samples (the same characteristic was recorded simultaneously for different objects) of body weight samples of children were studied. Then they were combined without any adjustments. As a result, a single model was created, which was used to obtain a set of curves that represent a standardized “body weight – age” indicator for each sex. These standard data in the form of graphs or tables can be found on the official WHO website and determine from them how much a child should weigh (both a boy and a girl) for a specific age.
Specialists to assess the development of children“BMI — age” is also used. The index is the value obtained as the ratio of body weight, measured in kilograms to the square of the length of the body or to the square of the growth of the child in square meters. For this indicator, standards are organized in groups: for children aged 0 to 24 months (up to two years) and for children over 24 and up to 60 months (from two to five years). As a result of the research, standard indicators were obtained characterizing the development of children under five years of age. Using this data, you can not only determine how much a child should weigh, but also by comparing the actual values (mass, length of a child’s body, his height or BMI) with the standards established by WHO, assess how the child is developed. That is, a technically reliable instrument was obtained, with the help of which the physiological development of a child is described under optimal living conditions.
Мама может самостоятельно узнать, сколько должен weigh a child at 2 months or at any other age. Today it is easy to buy special scales for weighing your baby. But she needs to know what mistakes should not be made when measuring (the baby’s body weight, its length or height) or the interpretation of measurement results when compared with standard characteristics. The biggest mistake is getting unreliable results when using weights. The scales must be calibrated and calibrated and undergo periodic maintenance. All these procedures are expensive and the budget is far from every young family can withstand such expenses. Another mistake parents make is to use different scales to measure body weight. As a result (the error of some scales changes the result in a lower direction, and the others - in a large one) you can get an alarming signal about the underdevelopment of the baby, which will not correspond to reality.
Therefore, the most correct way is to find out how mucha child must weigh at 4 months, 6 months, and also sooner or later than this period - this is a regular visit to the children's district doctor. The results of measuring the mass, length or height of the child will be obtained using attorneys or calibrated (the same!) Measuring instruments and correctly interpreted using growth graphs or WHO tables. The doctor will inform the young parents about how the child develops, and also give recommendations (if necessary) on the adjustment of nutrition or care. Mom or dad has many other signs that make it clear that the baby is growing correctly. He has a good regular chair. Clothes have to be changed frequently, as it becomes small, and the seat belts in a wheelchair or car seat must be periodically loosened. The face and hands are plump, and the baby is getting harder. He has a good sleep and appetite, and in his waking hours he is active and cheerful.
